Many people wonder, "why am I here", but most people do not take the necessary measures to find the answer. Or to find the correct answer.
I spent this past summer working at the Boardwalk Chapel in NJ where the staff of 16 people put on nightly programs at an open chapel on the public beach boardwalk. The programs consisted of music, skits, testimonies and preaching...all of which were saturated in the gospel. After these programs we would go out and share the gospel with those on the boardwalk. Many people I had the opportunity to speak with had this question, and sadly, many had never wondered and didn't care.
In all of life, the basic answer to this question is: "To glorify God and enjoy Him forever." We are created by God to love, serve, and obey Him with "all your heart, mind, soul, and strength." (Deut. 10:12) Because of our sinful state, this is only made possible because Christ took the curse that we deserve, giving grace to those who repent and beileve upon Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. God also commands His children to go into all the world to proclaim the gospel (Matt. 28:19-20).
Perhaps you have, at times, wondered the more specifics to this question, such as: "Why am I in this particular place in life?", "What, specifically, does God require of me in the next coming days?" I have thought and prayed much over this lately as I am now at home, and it is a joy to see how God reveals, sometimes all at once or sometimes little by little, to you how you can serve, learn, and know Him more. However, with this knowledge of His specific will for the moment comes discipline. It is a surrending of your will to be obedient to His call. I am seeing how this manifests itself in little ways such as, waking up at a decent hour, eating, exercising, doing the important things first! Oh how simple it all seems; yet, often times it is those very simple day to day things that try our faith and obedience.
Prayer. O how often our wills must be surrendered in prayer...every day! Is it any wonder why Paul says "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17). Pray for God's grace as you are obedient to His will, pray for His strength, pray for His guidence, pray that He would be made known in your conduct and speech and life. And never forget, as Paul goes on to say in 1 Thess. 5:18 "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
